Important Changes the Black Death Caused in Europe

The Black Death is a pandemic that swept across Europe in the mid-14th century. It is amongst one of the worst epidemics that have hit civilization since time immemorial. Also known as the Black Plague brought with it several changes and upheavals. Amongst such upheavals was the economy, change in societal norms, and even religion. The principal or primary purpose of this essay is to outline changes that were as a result of the black death in Europe, using the course reference Giovanni Boccaccio and Procopius.

The change and breakdown in societal norms as a result of the Black Plague were mostly witnessed through Europe, where people abandoned family and towns to avoid the disease. Those left alive or uninfected by the plague had many apprehensions so worse that they resulted in shunning and hating all contact with the sick and everything that belonged to them. An Italian by the name Giovanni Boccaccio who was probably the most famous chronicler of the Black Death, states in his book that, Some people resulted in living temperately and avoid all excesses that would count for much as a preservative against seizures of that kind. He claims that the memories and sights that came with the pandemic were so marvelous and unforgettable. Others formed communities in houses where there were no sick and lived a separate and secluded life, which they regulated with the utmost care, avoiding every kind of luxury, but eating and drinking moderately of the most delicate viands and the most excellent wines. They only held conversations amongst themselves. There those whose minds were biased in the opposite direction who maintained drinking freely, frequent places of public resort, and take their pleasure with song and revel, sparing to satisfy no appetite, and to laugh and mock at no event since that was the sovereign remedy for so great a plague. The Black Plague caused such extremes such as the city’s suffering and tribulation and also the vulnerability of authority of laws. They were abased and all but totally dissolved for lack of those who should have administered and enforced them, most of whom, like the rest of the citizens, were either dead or sick or so hard bested for servants that they were unable to execute any office; whereby every man was free to do what was right in his own eyes. Traditional authority, which was at the time from both the government and the church, was questioned by many as to how such a plague could befall people.

Unhealthy places in the cities such as living quarters were highly vulnerable since they made the transmission of the plague easier. This led to filthy towns which had a characteristic stench. Giovanni Boccaccio illustrates this very well saying that there, not a few who belonged to neither the above mentioned reckless nor the self-proclaimed righteous, but who kept a middle course between them, walked abroad carrying in their hand flowers or fragrant herbs which they frequently raised to their noses.

The positive side to this pandemic on the society was that humanity and personal piety came to flourish. In History of the Wars, 527 CE, a document by Procopius, who was also a prominent chronicler who lived in the Byzantine Empire, we find that it was sufficient if one carried on his shoulders the body of one of the dead to the parts of the city which bordered the sea them. A town like Caffa had catapulted the authorities out of the town. Those that had formerly been members of factions laid aside their mutual enmity and commonly attended to the burial rites of the dead and carried with their hands the bodies of those who were of no connections to them. People shook off the righteousness of their daily lives and practiced the duties of religion with diligence for being terrified, and supposing that they would die immediately. The economy in Europe took a toll as a result of the Black Death, with it came factors like increased poverty rates. Procopius talks of how work of every description ceased, all trades abandoned by the artisans and any other profession. Indeed, it seemed a challenging and very notable thing to have a sufficiency of bread or anything else. With some of the sick, it appeared that the end of life came about sooner than it should have arrived by reason of the lack of the necessities of life.

Conclusion

The Black Death is a pandemic that swept across Europe in the mid-14th century. It is amongst one of the worst epidemics that have hit civilization since time immemorial. Also known as the Black Plague brought with it several changes and upheavals. Amongst such upheavals was the economy, change in societal norms, and even religion.